Zuluhour vs Zigurat666: 1943

[zuluhour]

It's up to him now...

[zuluhour]

July 16, 1942

China: A raid far behind enemy lines recaptures Lang Son. Heavy raids continue over the battered Chinese Army in the central sector. The first raid is the most coordinated of the war. Under heavy cloud, 189 IJAF cause 616 casualties. Three more raids follow inflicting another 190. The Tojo is now escorting with Oscars.

Burma: P38s sweep Prome. No fighters rise. The night before several RAAF sorties hit the fields and get some Zeros on the ground. Not even a healthy slap in the face.

Indian Ocean: The Royal Navy battleship line is spotted but receives no incoming egressing from Diego Garcia.

CenPac: D -2. The IJN 10 ship TF spotted yesterday is attacked by SS Grenadier who IDs them as seven CMs and three CMcs. Fingers crossed for 48 hours.

[zuluhour]

CHINA:

[zuluhour]

VOLLEY:

[zuluhour]

I think something happened to yesterdays posts..... here was the screen shots:

[zuluhour]

VOLLEY:

[zuluhour]

July 18, 1942

China: No hideous bombings today. For the second straight day the 3rd Chinese Cavalry shock attacks behind the IJA lines on the left flank of the Yangtze line succeeding in pushing back AA and engineers.

Burma: The Australians, counter attacking IJA units north of Lashio are repulsed. All available bombers are ordered over the lines from Akyab tomorrow. I think Paul is long range CAPing the position. P40s and P38s will fly top cover. The first squadron of B17s lands in the Eastern Army sector.

Australia: The RAAF is expending a lot of ordinance for no gain over the IJA 6th tank Rgt SSW of Darwin. Horn Island is hit yesterday by B17s; no aircraft on the ground.

VOLLEY: The entire landing force, SAG, and fast attack groups were spotted yesterday close on VOLLEY. Little is unloaded yesterday so all are ordered to hold while the transports get the marines ashore tonight through tomorrow. The fleet is attacked by IJN destroyers at night and get a long lance into the North Carolina. She will remain with the SAG tomorrow. Subs are showing up everywhere. We claim a destroyer outright last night and the IJN may claim DD Monseen tomorrow. She was the target of most of the gunfire. The task forces broke off early, the Japs retiring NNW. When day broke, there was no sign of the Kido Butai. Carrier search aircraft found transport shipping off Tarawa and left two burning with several 1000#ers a piece. The Long Island closes on Tarawa from the SE tonight. Reports indicate 350 IJ were killed at Tarawa. The opening salvo of “The Battle for Tabiteuea" is over. One IJN DD sunk. Two xAKs burning. One US DD limping away at 7 knots. The North Carolina damaged.

[zuluhour]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Onotoa at 137,135, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 1
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Kisaragi
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 1
CA Northampton
CA Chester
CA Louisville
CL Raleigh
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
DD Monssen, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Laffey
DD Sims
DD Anderson

Reduced sighting due to 28% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 28% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards

[zuluhour]

July 19, 1942

Night actions: The 7th Marines land on Tabiteuea. SS Perch scores a torpedo hit on xAP Maru off Rabaul. Some IJA are in the water. I-25 misses the Long Island who is ordered to retire tonight. Battleship Div 1 arrives at Tarawa at daybreak and bombards. There are midget subs at Tarawa.

China: The 6th Chinese Corp does an about face and heads east back towards Lang Son as Japs are spotted across the border moving into positions. The plains are open as NCPC Army with 3 divisions and 4 brigades smash across the river south of Kienko. 8500 Chinese casualties with 447 destroyed squads are a bad omen here. In several days the IJA supply lines should be cut, so there is hope still. Massive bombing again over 77-49. Hundreds lost again. The 85th Corp is 11 miles from cutting off the whole Ankang salient. The another corp will reinforce it within days. Chinese pilots show up the Americans again over 77-49, outscoring them for the third day.

VOLLEY: The 7th marines along with Seabees, AAA, and USN support units are 90% ashore and digging. The TFs will remain through tomorrow to get the rest of the equipment and supply off. Almost 5000pts of supply land the first day. Battleship Division 1 will retire at flank and refuel off Johnston Island. The whole shooting match has been spotted for 72 hours now. I no longer believe he wants to do battle with the KB over the Gilberts. Tomorrow will tell. I will withdraw the naval elements tomorrow regardless.

[zuluhour]

Naval bombardment of Tarawa at 136,128

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
ACM Hong Kong Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
ACM Asahi Maru #2, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Idaho
BB Colorado

Japanese ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6
Port hits 4

BB Mississippi firing at Tarawa
BB Idaho firing at Tarawa
BB Colorado firing at Tarawa

[zuluhour]

Burma: RAF hits the IJA positions outside Akyab. Little damage to the Japanese, but RAAF losses are light and P38s get a couple of CAPing Zekes.

[Quixote]

There are midget subs at Tarawa.

Those two ACMs you put holes in during the bombardment indicate that there are also mines at Tarawa (probably quite a few of them given multiple ACMs) - careful on your next run there. Granted the mines won't sink a BB, but if the KB is around, or if there are any Netties in range, they could slow you up enough to get caught.

[zuluhour]

Yes, I assumed as much when I caught 7 CMs and 3 CMs departing the AO a couple of days ago. No mine icon appeared and I was confused as I thought there was virtually no FOW in that regard. There still is no mine icon there. Did he retreat his mine layers? Do mine symbols sometimes not appear? At any rate I may have been lucky as I believe they can activate entering or leaving the hex. Spying those CMs is one reason the North Carolina TF was diverted away from it's bombardment mission at Tarawa and sent to join the assault forces. I was (obviously) willing to risk the older battle line. I have seen the replay now and there was no sign of the Kido Butai nor any action sans recon and navy search missions today. There are at least half a dozen IJN subs watching my egress which will commence at nightfall. Everyone is ashore with 20,ooo pts of supply behind level 1 forts (23% to level 2) and patch of palms being carved into a strip for some lucky marine aviators.

[zuluhour]

July 20, 1942

NorPac: The IJAF flies some search and recon from Adak. They made quick work getting a level 4 AF. A second Bn of Seabees due in port tonight at Dutch Harbor.

CenPac: Orders to the fast attack groups and the assault TFs to retire due south to the staging areas for DROPSHOT. I hope this will also allow them to escape the subs to the east. Refueling oilers waiting at an atoll 72 hours to the SSE.

SoPac: Liberators hit the Suva fields and B17s are ordered to hi the port. It’s a fortuitous decision. The Forts claim I-22 sunk and a maru set alight.

SwPac: 6th Tank Rgt closes on an Aussie Bn guarding the crossroads. Bombing ineffective again against them. Beaufighters ordered to attack them again tomorrow. B26s will join B17s in central Australia to join in the effort.


MAJ Enlai R. of 4th FG/21st FS CAF is credited with kill number 7
MAJ Enlai R. of 4th FG/21st FS CAF is credited with kill number 8
2LT Zuolin J. of 4th FG/22nd FS CAF is credited with kill number 5
2LT Zuolin J. of 4th FG/22nd FS CAF attains ace status!!


China: The IJAF shifts focus to Kienko. Three raids: 210 sorties: 107 casualties. The Chinese fighter jocks are making fun of the US fly boys at the O club. There are not many, but there are some good ones. The IJA shock attacks SSE on Chungking on what is left of the Yangtze line left flank and is repulsed with heavy combat unit casualties, buying time, precious time. 5,ooo Japs vs 1500 Chinese. The best part is in the destroyed squads. 175 to 5.

[Quixote]

ORIGINAL: zuluhour

Yes, I assumed as much when I caught 7 CMs and 3 CMs departing the AO a couple of days ago. No mine icon appeared and I was confused as I thought there was virtually no FOW in that regard. There still is no mine icon there. Did he retreat his mine layers? Do mine symbols sometimes not appear? At any rate I may have been lucky as I believe they can activate entering or leaving the hex. Spying those CMs is one reason the North Carolina TF was diverted away from it's bombardment mission at Tarawa and sent to join the assault forces. I was (obviously) willing to risk the older battle line. I have seen the replay now and there was no sign of the Kido Butai nor any action sans recon and navy search missions today. There are at least half a dozen IJN subs watching my egress which will commence at nightfall. Everyone is ashore with 20,ooo pts of supply behind level 1 forts (23% to level 2) and patch of palms being carved into a strip for some lucky marine aviators.

One possibility is that yes, he did retreat his minelayers before they put a field in place. Another possibility is that there still is a field in place, but that you got lucky and didn't hit it on your bombardment. Whatever the case, you won't see the mine icon until either A) One of your ships hits a mine (your troops now know there's a minefield there), or B) You capture the base, and there are still enemy mines present (you'll get automatic intel.) In your case, either you got lucky or there really are no mines there, but you won't find out for sure until later.

[zuluhour]

July 21, 1942

It is quiet except over the skies of Kienko where the IJAF is now focusing. Allied fighters in China desperately need rest and I may rotate in another squadron. In the central Pacific the North Carolina's crew fixes most of the torpedo damage and the ship can easily keep pace with the assault TF's. I am going to try and sneak the USMC armor into Tabiteuea in 48 hours.I hope for a few days of quiet to begin some future planning and touch up the final plans for DROPSHOT.

In regards to the mines, I was beginning to think there was NO FOW concerning their emplacement. This is good news.

[zuluhour]

July 22, 1942

NorPac: Dutch Harbor: RECON: Adak shown to have over 100 aircraft of all types. An IJN TF spotted in the Bering Sea NNW of Dutch Harbor. No TFs or major surface warships spotted.

CenPac: Fast attack groups routed to an atoll for refueling before proceeding to DROPSHOT. The amphibious component and North Carolina Surface attack group breaks off for Pago Pago. Liberators and B17s (three squadrons presently on the island) ordered over Suva along with a full recon of Nadi, Suva, and an outer island. There should be 30 additional transports (mostly xAP) for DROPSHOT bringing the total number of AP and xAP types to 45 or so. I want a big D-Day offload and be finished with the initial lift within 48 hours.

China: Bombings ease a bit and formations are not coordinated. A ground attack breaks the Chinese line and almost dissolves the front completely.

Ground combat at 78,42 (near Kienko)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 57876 troops, 487 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 1590

Defending force 13007 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 444

Japanese adjusted assault: 2068

Allied adjusted defense: 30

Japanese assault odds: 68 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
777 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 77 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5645 casualties reported
Squads: 274 destroyed, 81 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 77 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 67 (37 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
116th Division
6th Ind.Mixed Brigade
13th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
35th Division
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
North China Area Army
NCPC Army

Defending units:
8th Route Army
6th Chinese Corps
Red Chinese Army

[zuluhour]

Nothing out of the ordinary, It's what IJ is giving me. IMHO.

[zuluhour]

And a little break from the war and a visit to the home front, or just a peek over the bunks on Tabiteuea.

[zuluhour]

July 23, 1942

China: The front has disintegrated in the north. IJA units must be hurting on supply and I may be forced to counter attack just when my own supply is at a trickle. Another USAF fighter squadron transfers into China giving me two solid US squadrons and three smaller Chinese squadrons facing some 300+ IJAF bombers and maybe 100 fighters.

Burma: I am presently studying the feasibility of raids against the only known used airbase at Prome. Does getting a lot of IJAF aircraft on the ground and shutting the base down actually mean anything or provide any value in exchange for the possible losses? The basic plan involves recon and Lighting sweeps from Akyab followed by a B17 group raid from Dacca. The next day, the RAF would hit the fields. Wellingtons would accompany the Fortresses on day one. If I wait a week the B17 group would expand from 32 to 48. Even if I could get air superiority, there is not enough deployed ground force in Burma proper to exploit it.

Australia: More IJA sighted SSW of Darwin.

CenPac: SoPac: The fast attack groups refuel. The bombardment TF will refuel in the next 48 hours and proceed to Pearl for rearming. The Oklahoma is finished repair on the west coast and is ready to join a newly constituted Battleship Division 2. The Arizona is almost to the west coast now as well, and will refit and repair. I have spent the past two days planning transport for DROPSHOT. I did notice a few things. The IJ have a major aerodrome at Shortland Island and Rabaul. A probable seaplane base at Tulagi and on Esprito Santo. Support and seaplane squadrons are being assembled to occupy something in the Santa Cruz, Koumac, and maybe central Solomons. This could give us a very early warning of approaching IJN forces at DROPSHOT.